Stadium Merdeka

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium) is a sports stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was initially erected for Malaysia's declaration of independence on August 31, 1957. The birthplace of modern Federation of Malaysia, Stadium Merdeka was the site of one of the nation's most important events. It was here on 31 August, 1957 that power was transferred from the British Empire to the newly independent Malayan government (Malaya excluded Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah). Tens of thousands of people crowded into the stadium which was built specifically for this unforgettable occasion. While the stadium is an important part of Malaysia's history, it was almost destroyed. The building and land was given to a private company to build a RM1 billion entertainment and office complex. In exchange, the company would have built seven other stadia in other locations. However, public outcry and the mid-1990's Asian economic crisis saved the facility. In February 2003, Stadium Merdeka was named a national heritage building.